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�� reread #3 �� 5 stars

“he was my coach. and i was his friend.
or something like that.��

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK, i can’t believe i haven’t picked up this book until now. the tension build up, the banter, bickering, jealousy and the slow burn angst was so THRILLING. it was impossible to put this book down. you know it’s an amazing book when you have the urge to read it all over again as soon as you finish it!!
�� this was another excruciating slow burn but listen, i’m a realist and will take the slow-burn over “insta-love�� ANY DAY. yet i still couldn’t get enough of kulti and sal, they’ve stolen my heart. i was literally giggling and blushing over the nicknames and the small touches between them. 🤭

“you are my best friend, my love, my playmate and my teammate. you’ll have a team with me wherever we are, with whatever we are playing��

the jealousy scenes when i tell you KULTI WAS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE, THEY WERE TOP TIER SCENES >>>
�� i seriously needed kulti’s pov every time he was jealous bc he was losing his mind!! especially when sal hugged his friend before him and he got so mf grumpy afterwards.
�� “kulti, who was standing there with his tongue in his cheek, had his arms crossed over his chest. he was pissed. i could recognize it by the way his eyes were narrowed.�� PLSSS- THIS HAD ME GIGGLING 🤭

the romantic development between sal and kulti was delivered perfectly. the buildup was so natural and not rushed. it was strictly a coach and player relationship which leads to a heartwarming friendship then gradually builds up to a romantic level. i love that we got to experience the relationship develop naturally.

�� kulti’s love confessions to sal fr had me screaming into my pillow, i was losing my mind!! i want this man for myself.

“you belong to me��

knees weak, head spinning, butterflies in my stomach.
reiner kulti is officially my fav sexy, grumpy, dilf

“my schnecke, my little snail, my love.��

i didn’t like the recurring slut shaming in this book - i love sal but she would act like she was better than everyone else and had this tendency to internally call other women “whores�� and “sluts�� constantly and it threw me off. but i still devoured this book nonetheless <33

tropes:
slow burn
coach/player—forbidden love
age gap (fmc is 27 and mmc is 39)
sports romance
grumpy x sunshine
childhood crush to best friends to lovers
boy obsessed & girl obsessed